White House denies Trump’s claim of election fraud

Washington, Nov 29 (IANS) The White House said that there is no evidence to support the alleged “election fraud” claimed by President-elect Donald Trump, who on the weekend said that “millions” of people voted “illegally” for his Democratic rival, Hillary Clinton, in the November 8 election.

On Sunday, Trump said on Twitter that he would have beaten Clinton in the nationwide popular vote “if you deduct the millions of people who voted illegally”.

He also called into question the results in three states he lost to Clinton, saying “Serious voter fraud in Virginia, New Hampshire and California — so why isn’t the media reporting on this? Serious bias — big problem!” but offering no evidence of the supposed fraud.

However, there has been “no evidence produced to substantiate” Trump’s claims, White House press secretary Josh Earnest said on Monday, Xinhua news agency reported.

Trump has resurrected the claim of election fraud in an apparent attempt to divert the media focus on the vote recounts requested by the Green Party in Wisconsin, Pennsylvania and in Michigan.

The mogul’s transition team insisted on Monday that there is evidence of election fraud.

Trump’s reaction came after Clinton’s campaign said on the weekend that it would “participate” in the Green Party’s recount effort.

Meanwhile, Trump transition team spokesman Jason Miller told reporters on Monday that it is “ridiculous wasting oxygen” on recounts, labelling it a fundraising “scam by Jill Stein in an election already conceded” and an effort that will not change the overall election result.

Trump won 306 votes in the Electoral College to Clinton’s 232, putting him above the 270 votes needed there to win the presidency.

But the College’s electors are scheduled to formally vote on the matter on December 19 and Trump will not officially be declared the winner until he secures at least 270 of their votes.